Poll shows tightening of Booker-Lonegan race

TRENTON, N.J. – A new poll finds the race for U.S. Senate in New Jersey has tightened.

The Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday shows 53 percent back Democratic Newark Mayor Booker, while 41 percent support former Bogota Mayor Mark "Steve" Lonegan. The special election is scheduled for Oct. 16.

A poll of registered votes in August showed Booker with a 25-percentage-point lead over the conservative Republican.

Booker gets the majority of his backing from women, who support him 60-34. Men and independents are split.

Pollster Maurice Carroll says the results could be driven by bad news about Newark crime and publicity about Booker's business ventures.

The telephone survey of 948 likely voters was conducted from Sept. 19-22. It has an error margin of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.